BlackBerry Still A Work In Progress: Needham & Co.

Needham & Co. issued a research report on BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) today, suggesting the company appeared to be making the right moves, but that it was too soon to call the turnaround efforts a success. According to Needham & Co. analyst Charlie Wolf, who summarized the company’s recent conference call in the report, it will probably be two years before we can really judge the success or failure of BlackBerry.

Foxconn deal a key factor in BlackBerry’s efforts

Wolf emphasized that the recently signed deal with Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) (OTCMKTS:FXCOF) was hands-down the biggest deal in BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s turnaround efforts, and that the future of the company likely hinges on how the Foxconn partnership develops. The deal involves jointly designing and developing an inexpensive smartphone tentatively named Jakarta. The new phone is expected to be introduced in Indonesia in 2Q 2014.

“While BlackBerry’s enterprise businesses might achieve some success – it’s too early to know – we believe the key to any turnaround will be its partnership with Foxconn,” Wolfe said in the report. “The company needs to increase its device revenues to offset the fixed expenses in its operations. The company hopes to return to profitability by fiscal 2016. But it will require a successful partnership with Foxconn to achieve it.”

BlackBerry to refocus on software and services

BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has clearly decided to refocus its development efforts on software and services under new CEO John Chen. Chen laid out his plans in an interview before Christmas. The Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) (OTCMKTS:FXCOF) deal leaves most of the heavy lifting after the design stage to Foxconn, so Blackberry can focus on its core strength of software development.

Rated as Underperform

Needham & Co. currently holds an Underperform rating on BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) and is further reducing their earnings estimates for the company. Wolf reports that with write-offs, BlackBerry totaled a loss of $8.37 a share this quarter. Without the write-offs, the company only lost $0.67 per share.

“We’re lowering our fiscal 2014 GAAP earnings estimate from a loss of $2.40 to a loss of $11.35,” he said. “And we’re initiating a 2015 estimate of a loss of $3.85.”

About the author

Clayton Browne is an experienced writer, editor and translator with a broad background in the social sciences, technology, finance and investing. Favorite pastimes include science fiction, sports, poker and good food. He is an active volunteer at the Austin Children's Shelter and a member of the Austin-area Salvation Army Advisory Board.